Abnormal Psychology
"Pa-leng" is a. a fear of cold found in Chinese cultures. b. a Japanese form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. c. a phobia stemming from paternal abuse. d. the sound that money makes when it falls into the therapist's pocket.
Answer: A
A circuit of this system controls alarm reactions. a. Noradrenergic b. Dopamine c. 5-HT d. GABA
Answer: A
A prognosis is based primarily upon a. information about the course of the disorder in other individuals. b. whether the symptoms an individual exhibits correspond to the DSM-IV category for a particular disorder. c. the treatment options available to the patient. d. the client's desire to reform.
Answer: A
According to studies with monkeys, a sense of control can influence a. responses to neurotransmitters. b. self-esteem. c. egotism. d. degree of yoking.
Answer: A
Alarmingly, in some areas where the rate of new cases of AIDS had been declining, it has begun increasing again. The statistic that tells us this information is a. incidence. b. correlation. c. deviation. d. prevalence.
Answer: A
Anxiety is difficult to study because a. humans may manifest it in many different ways. b. animal research cannot be applied to our understanding of the human anxiety experience. c. it is implicated in only a few types of psychopathology. d. it has no physiological consequences.
Answer: A
As a clinician, you begin your initial assessment interviews by a. asking broad, open-ended questions. b. asking specific questions related to the diagnosis. c. assessing neurological development. d. giving clients diagnostic tests.
Answer: A
Batman is walking down a dark alley in Gotham City. Suddenly, a dark figure jumps out from behind a trash bin and points a gun at him. Batman turns and runs, faster than a speeding bullet. This is an example of a. alarm response. b. panic. c. anxiety. d. wimpy behavior.
Answer: A
Breuer discovered that a. hysterical symptoms were alleviated after patients discussed them under hypnosis. b. dogs salivate to a bell if the bell is rung prior to feeding. c. discussing problems while hypnotized leads to patient insight. d. general paresis was caused by the same bacteria that cause syphilis.
Answer: A
Equifinality refers to the idea that a. different paths may lead to the same outcome. b. a psychological disorder is caused by more than one factor. c. a disorder will have a different prognosis, depending on the individual. d. the same disorder can have multiple symptoms.
Answer: A
External cues to panic attacks a. may include increases in heart rate or respiration. b. may be places similar to the one where the original panic attack occurred. c. are only places where panic attacks have occurred in the past. d. none of the above
Answer: A
Inverse agonists have a(an) _____________ effect on neurotransmitters. a. opposite b. decreasing c. increasing d. no
Answer: A
Obsessive-compulsive disorder appears to be linked to the area of the brain called the __________________. The implications of this finding are that__________________. a. orbital frontal cortex; although the disorder is related to a particular brain circuit, the causes of the disorder are not necessarily completely biological b. orbital frontal cortex; the disorder is probably due only to brain damage in this area c. occipital lobe; although the disorder is related to a particular brain circuit, the disorder causes the abnormalities in the brain d. occipital lobe; the disorder is most likely due to purely psychological causes ANS: A
Answer: A
On the MMPI, results are assessed according to a. how the pattern of answers corresponds to that of people diagnosed with a specific disorder. b. how often the individual refers to specific ideas, such as aggression or sexuality. c. the degree of emotionality associated with results. d. how often an individual responds to questions that reflect aggression or some other concept.
Answer: A
One of the results of the discovery that the disease syphilis and the disordered behavior that results from it are both caused by the same bacterial microorganism was a. mental health professionals began to think that other psychological disorders might be caused by other microorganisms, and biological cures might be possible. b. individuals diagnosed with syphilis were referred to psychologists instead of doctors for further treatment. c. the mental hygiene movement was established, which attempted to provide a sterile, bacteria-free, environment for those suffering from disorders. d. mental health professionals adopted a genetic model, which has been supported by further scientific investigations into the causes of disorders.
Answer: A
Psychological conditioning involves a. learning a relationship between two events. b. salivating to a metronome. c. adding body and manageability to one's hair. d. learning to salivate to food.
Answer: A
Reuptake refers to a. a neurotransmitter being released at the synaptic cleft. b. a neuron reabsorbing a neurotransmitter after it is released. c. a neurotransmitter attaching to a receptor cell. d. a neurotransmitter being broken down at the synaptic cleft.
Answer: A
The CAT scan neuroimaging technique a. uses x-rays to portray brain structures. b. uses magnetic fields to portray brain structures. c. follows tracer elements in the nervous system. d. uses magnetic fields to portray brain functions. e. studies brains of domestic felines.
Answer: A
The diagnostic report states "The patient was oriented to time and space, showed appropriate affect, and could do simple calculations. Short and long-term memory were intact." Someone has done a. a mental status exam. b. psychophysiological testing. c. projective testing. d. reliability evaluation.
Answer: A
The phenomenon in which entire groups of people simultaneously begin to behave abnormally is known as a. mass hysteria. b. exorcism. c. lunacy. d. melancholy.
Answer: A
The purpose of structured and semi-structured interviews is a. to collect necessary information in a standard way to allow for comparison with similar individuals. b. to initiate treatment. c. to increase confidentiality. d. to help develop the therapist/client relationship.
Answer: A
The scientist-practitioner model of psychology focuses on a. the psychologist's use of scientific principles to study which treatments are most effective and to decide which treatment to use. b. the psychologist's use of statistics, such as prevalence and incidence, to diagnose clients. c. the exchange of information between scientists. d. the use of drugs in clinical practice.
Answer: A
Tim owns a cat who licks her chops when she hears cellophane cat food packets being opened. This is not a skill she or her wild ancestors learned in the jungle. According to a classical conditioning account, the cellophane sound is a. a conditioned stimulus b. an unconditioned stimulus. c. a conditioned response. d. an unconditioned response.
Answer: A
Valerie tells you that she has been receiving cognitive-behavioral treatment for her generalized anxiety disorder. This treatment most likely involves a. bringing on the worry process during therapy sessions and confronting the anxiety-provoking images and worrisome thoughts head-on. b. discussing the earliest memories of anxiety-provoking events and finding meaning in these fears. c. snapping a rubber band on her wrist when she is anxious. d. the prescription of serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication.
Answer: A
What is Joseph Wolpe's most noted contribution to psychology? a. Systematic desensitization as a means of therapy b. The discovery that fear can be repressed through familiarity with the feared object c. The definition of operant conditioning d. The discovery of the mechanism of the extinction process
Answer: A
Which of the following could result in learned helplessness? a. Being in a stressful situation one cannot control b. Being in a stressful situation and refusing to control it c. Being in control and then encountering stressors d. Perceiving control when none is present
Answer: A
A one-dimensional causal model a. uses only one perspective, such as behaviorism, to treat a disorder. b. attributes a disorder to a single cause. c. notes that many paths lead to the same disorder. d. looks at only one disorder at a time.
Answer: B
According to the principle of prepared learning, humans a. are genetically predisposed to know certain things. b. inherit a capacity to learn certain things that are beneficial to the survival of the species. c. ready to learn to read by the age of six. d. are unable to learn the same things that rats learn.
Answer: B
As a psychiatrist, you have a client experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. You most likely prescribe a. reserpine. b. benzodiazepines. c. bromides. d. neuroleptics.
Answer: B
Binet, in an attempt to predict which children would succeed in school, developed a. a sentence completion test. b. an intelligence test based on an intelligence quotient. c. an intelligence test based on deviation IQS. d. achievement testing.
Answer: B
Elliot constantly worries about his health, his finances, his job security, and the stability of his marriage. Often, his worries keep him awake at night, causing him to be so fatigued at work that he cannot perform his duties adequately. His wife is becoming frustrated with him, since he is so preoccupied with his worries that he is unable to do the dinner dishes when it is his turn. Elliot's problem might be diagnosed as a. panic disorder. b. generalized anxiety disorder. c. simple phobia. d. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Answer: B
External cues to panic attacks a. may include increases in heart rate or respiration. b. may be places similar to the one where the original panic attack occurred. c. are only places where panic attacks have occurred in the past. d. none of the above
Answer: B
Generalized anxiety disorder is considered the "basic" anxiety disorder because a. it was the first anxiety disorder to be studied using animal models. b. all the other anxiety disorders include intense generalized anxiety. c. both a and b d. it was the first anxiety disorder to be studied by Freud.
Answer: B
If using the diagnosis "depressed" allows you as a clinician to determine an effective treatment and give an accurate prognosis, the diagnosis has a. reliability. b. criterion validity. c. construct validity. d. content validity.
Answer: B
Psychophysiological assessment techniques are used to a. determine the physiological causes of psychological disorders. b. measure bodily changes, such as heart rate and anxiety, associated with psychological processes. c. analyze the functioning of the brain to determine if brain damage or abnormalities contribute to psychological disorders. d. ensure that both the body and the mind respond appropriately to stress.
Answer: B
Research comparing psychological interventions (talk therapy) to biological interventions (medication) suggest that talk therapy affects the brain from the _____ ______, and biological interventions affects the brain from the _________ _________. a. bottom up; top down b. top down; bottom up c. right to left; left to right d. left to right; right to left
Answer: B
Research indicates that the relationship between psychological treatment and brain circuits is such that a. psychological treatment works regardless of the brain circuit activity. b. psychological treatment can alter brain circuits. c. brain circuit activity alone determines the response to psychological treatment. d. psychological treatment is not effective due to the changes in the brain caused by mental disorders.
Answer: B
Research suggesting that cigarette smoking by teenagers increases the risk for developing anxiety disorders as adults indicates that a. the negative effects of smoking are permanent. b. environmental factors can affect susceptibility to the development of anxiety disorders. c. adolescents have underdeveloped brain circuits. d. nicotine decreases anxiety levels.
Answer: B
The endocrine system is important because it a. produces the neurotransmitters that determine bodily growth. b. produces hormones that are implicated in some psychological problems. c. produces the hormones that directly cause some psychological disorders. d. is the main controller of the entire nervous system.
Answer: B
The reason that a possible mixed anxiety-depression diagnosis is considered for DSM inclusion is a. the disorder was theoretically sound. b. the symptoms were often seen in primary care settings. c. the disorder was scientifically based. d. the disorder had construct validity.
Answer: B
Therapist Dr. X (not her real name) is working with a client who is heavily involved with body-piercing. The client enjoys it, but Dr. X thinks the amount is so excessive she considers it abnormal behavior. She is employing which definition of abnormality? a. Dysfunction b. Culturally inappropriate or unexpected c. Impairment d. Distress
Answer: B
Which of the following is not an aspect of the definition of psychological disorders? a. The atypical response element, which states that a deviation from normal behavior is evidence of a psychological disorder b. The psychodynamic element, which suggests that abnormal behavior is the result of poor ego defense mechanisms c. The distress element, in which personal discomfort signals the presence of a psychological disorder d. The impairment in functioning element, which defines a psychological disorder based on a disruption in ability to carry out normal tasks
Answer: B
Which of the following observations is not true of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder? a. They are more sensitive to threats than are other people. b. They show more responsiveness on physiological measures than individuals with other anxiety disorders. c. They exhibit more muscle tension than other people. d. They appear to be autonomic restrictors.
Answer: B
You would expect a remorseless, seasoned criminal to score highly on which scale of the MMPI? a. Paranoia b. Psychopathic deviation c. Psychasthenia d. Social introversion
Answer: B
A young woman was intently observing a handsome young man. He noticed her observations and promptly turned away and blushed. This is an example of a. self-monitoring. b. formal observation. c. reactivity. d. clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
Answer: C
Anxiety is a. an immediate alarm reaction to stressful situations. b. usually a sign of an underdeveloped ego. c. potentially helpful in planning for the future. d. always a hindrance to adaptive functioning.
Answer: C
Comorbidity refers to a. a disorder that manifests itself in several ways. b. the same disorder being diagnosed for two members of a family. c. more than one disorder diagnosed for the same individual. d. the severity of a particular disorder.
Answer: C
Emily has been evaluated by three different professionals, each of whom offers a different diagnosis. She wonders whether the field has any standards because their judgments obviously lack a. statistical significance. b. clinical utility. c. reliability. d. clinical significance.
Answer: C
Human behavior, both normal and abnormal, is the result of biological, psychological, and social factors a. competing. b. operating independently. c. interacting. d. conflicting.
Answer: C
In the treatment you offer most of your clients with anxiety disorders, you seek to relax muscle tension and reduce blood pressure and heart rate. The exception is a. social phobia. b. specific phobia. c. blood-injection-injury disorder. d. panic disorder with agoraphobia.
Answer: C
Marguerite is tested for brain damage. Although her test results indicate that she has no brain damage, in reality, she has a brain tumor. Her test results indicate a __________, which is a problem because a. false positive; she will not get the treatment she needs. b. false positive; she may end up paying for costly treatment that is not necessary. c. false negative; she will not get the treatment she needs. d. false negative; she may end up paying for costly treatment that is not necessary.
Answer: C
More recent DSM versions have promoted all but which of the following? a. Wide acceptance among mental health professionals b. Higher reliability c. Greater correspondence between categories and their theories of etiology d. Multi-axial approach to diagnosis
Answer: C
Most behavioral geneticists think that psychological disorders are influenced by a. single genes. b. several different genes, each of which determines the severity of the disorder. c. many genes, each of which exerts only a small effect. d. no genes in particular.
Answer: C
One advantage of a formal observation, as compared to an informal observation, is that a. formal observations are easier to make. b. formal observations rarely require the use of naturalistic settings. c. formal observations are more reliable due to the focus on behaviors that are both observable and measurable. d. formal observations give more information about an individual.
Answer: C
One key difference between Jung and Adler was that a. Jung focused on the individual reaching his or her potential, while Adler emphasized the significance of the individual's contributions to a society. b. Adler focused on the individual reaching his or her potential, while Jung emphasized the significance of the individual's contributions to a society. c. Jung saw people as struggling to control their aggressive instincts, while Adler saw society as repressing peoples' desire to self-actualize. d. Adler saw people as struggling to control their aggressive instincts, while Jung saw society as repressing peoples' desire to self-actualize.
Answer: C
Paula has frequent panic attacks, but only when she views the national news on television. However, she does not experience a panic attack every time she sees the national news. Paula's panic attacks would be classified as a. unexpected. b. situationally bound. c. situationally predisposed. d. justified.
Answer: C
Ritualistic, repeated actions designed to prevent intrusive thoughts are called a. obsessions. b. convulsions. c. compulsions. d. delusions.
Answer: C
Seligman's main contribution to psychology was the concept of ___________; Bandura's was the notion of ____________. a. modeling; observational learning b. observational learning; learned helplessness c. learned helplessness; modeling d. modeling; learned helplessness
Answer: C
Sportscaster John Madden's fear and avoidance of flying is an example of a. generalized anxiety disorder. b. panic disorder with agoraphobia. c. specific phobia. d. panic disorder without agoraphobia.
Answer: C
The Oedipus complex, which, according to Freud, occurs during the __________ stage of psychosexual development, is characterized by_____________ __________. a. genital; penis envy b. oral; penis envy c. phallic; castration anxiety d. latency; castration anxiety
Answer: C
The classical and dimensional approaches to nosology differ in that a. the classical approach uses categories, and the dimensional approach uses prototypes. b. the classical approach uses prototypes, and the dimensional approach uses profiles. c. the classical approach diagnoses based on the presence of symptoms, and the dimensional approach notes the degree of severity of symptoms. d. the classical approach places individuals in categories, and the dimensional approach places symptoms in categories.
Answer: C
The following list of exercises would most likely be an example of which type of treatment, 1) shop in a crowded supermarket, 2) walk five blocks away from home, 3) drive? a. Panic control treatment. b. Cognitive-behavioral treatment. c. Gradual exposure treatment. d. None
Answer: C
The main element in psychological treatment of panic disorders is a. benzodiazepines. b. hypnosis. c. exposure to the feared symptoms. d. teaching avoidance techniques.
Answer: C
The mental status exam does not directly involve a. observing a person's appearance. b. noting the presence of delusions, hallucinations, or ideas of reference. c. determining whether the condition is due to a medical problem. d. determining mood and affect.
Answer: C
The most common phobia, the fear of public speaking, is an example of a. specific phobia. b. agoraphobia. c. social phobia. d. specific, situational phobia.
Answer: C
The part of the nervous system that is activated in times of stress is the _______________ nervous system. a. parasympathetic b. somatic c. sympathetic d. central
Answer: C
The purpose of psychoanalysis is a. to reduce the symptoms of a disorder. b. to examine ego defenses. c. to reveal unconscious conflicts. d. to overcome the Oedipal complex.
Answer: C
The two neurotransmitters referred to as the "chemical brothers" are a. serotonin and dopamine. b. dopamine and GABA. c. glutamate and GABA. d. epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Answer: C
This instrument measures brain-wave activity by recording the electrical activity of the brain. a. CAT scan b. MRI c. EEG d. SPECT
Answer: C
Which of the following is an incorrect match between a drug and the problem it is used to treat? a. Reserpine: aggression b. Benzodiazepines: panic attacks c. Bromides: hallucinations d. Neuroleptics: delusions
Answer: C
Which of the following is not true of classical conditioning? a. It involves pairing of a UCS and a CS. b. It was demonstrated by Pavlov with his dogs. c. It involves shaping procedures. d. The CR can be eliminated in a process called extinction.
Answer: C
Which of the following is true? a. If either a diathesis or a stress is present, a disorder will develop. b. If both a diathesis and stress are present, a disorder will develop. c. The smaller the diathesis, the greater the stress needs to be to produce a disorder. d. The larger the diathesis, the greater the stress needs to be to produce a disorder.
Answer: C
While many fears are learned, some are more easily learned, or more prepared to be learned than others. The most likely fear-prepared stimulus below would be a. rocks. b. guns. c. spiders. d. electrical outlets.
Answer: C
A false positive result on your neuropsychological test is problematic because a. damage that requires treatment is more likely to be overlooked. b. no neurological damage may be actually present. c. it may call for unnecessary and expensive further testing. d. all but a
Answer: D
A specific phobia involving motorcycles can develop as a result of a predisposition to develop fear combined with a. watching another person experience a motorcycle accident. b. hearing your mother repeatedly warn you about the doom associated with motorcycles. c. experiencing a traumatic event yourself, such as a motorcycle skid. d. all of the above
Answer: D
According to the textbook, DSM-IV is based on the a. classical system of nosology. b. dimensional system of nosology. c. categorical system of nosology. d. prototypical system of nosology.
Answer: D
An individual who blocks disturbing thoughts or experiences from conscious awareness is said to be using the defense mechanism a. sublimation. b. rationalization. c. projection. d. repression.
Answer: D
Defense mechanisms may be important in treatment planning because they a. cannot be studied scientifically. b. are most prevalent in people with psychological disorders. c. have potential significance in the study of schizophrenia. d. may differ for different psychological disorders.
Answer: D
How do individuals with blood-injury-injection phobia differ from those with other phobias? a. In their avoidance behavior b. In their physiological reaction c. In their familial history of the disorder d. Both b and c
Answer: D
If you wished to look for possible damage in a client's brain, which technique would be appropriate? a. Neuropsychological testing b. PET scan c. Autopsy d. All of these
Answer: D
Judy's blood-injury-injection phobia described in the text was likely caused by a. a biological predisposition. b. behavioral influences. c. social influences. d. all of the above
Answer: D
Louie was barking like a dog and walking on his hands and knees. A professional thought the cause of Louie's problem was that he had an excess of a particular neurotransmitter, so she prescribed a drug for him. The professional is most likely a ____________, operating under the _____________ model of abnormal behavior. a. clinical psychologist, psychological b. psychiatric nurse, supernatural c. psychiatric social worker, behavioral d. psychiatrist, biological
Answer: D
Psychological treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder usually involves a. ritual prevention. b. medication. c. exposure to feared stimuli. d. both a and c
Answer: D
Rita suffers from a panic disorder. After she begins exercising, her heart rate increases. A cognitive theorist would predict that Rita would a. interpret the increased heart rate in a catastrophic way. b. experience a surge of anxiety after interpreting the heart rate increase as something dangerous. c. be likely to experience a panic attack if she interprets any additional physical sensations as signs of increasing danger. d. all of the above
Answer: D
Rob presented at the clinic with complaints that he is terrified to go anywhere that does not have a bathroom for fear that he will begin vomiting and not be able to stop. He has had one panic attack and reported that a week after that attack, he felt no residual effects from it. Rob would most likely receive a DSM-IV diagnosis of a. panic disorder with agoraphobia. b. panic disorder without agoraphobia. c. interoceptive agoraphobia. d. agoraphobia without history of panic disorder.
Answer: D
The "fight or flight" response refers to a. an Air Force principle for dealing with conflict. b. a typical response to learned helplessness. c. a technique used in Ellis's rational-emotive therapy. d. an alarm reaction in the face of adverse circumstances.
Answer: D
The elements of person-centered therapy include a. hypnosis and catharsis. b. reinforcement and shaping. c. rest and relaxation. d. unconditional positive regard and empathy.
Answer: D
The purpose of standardization is a. to make a diagnosis predictive. b. to increase the scores on a test. c. to determine whether a technique is appropriate. d. to make techniques consistent and comparable.
Answer: D
This lobe is the part of the brain that is used for reasoning and relating to the world as humans. a. Cerebral b. Temporal c. Limbic d. Frontal
Answer: D
We can use a computer to score polygraph tracings to eliminate human judgment and error and, thus, increase ____________. To call this system a "lie detector" is a question of ____________. a. validity; ethics b. validity; standardization c. sensitivity; reliability d. reliability; validity
Answer: D
Which of the following accurately illustrates the reciprocal gene-environment model of interaction? a. Due to her phobia of cats, May avoids them. b. Joan knows her father is an alcoholic, so she avoids alcohol. c. Tony has a predisposition to develop a blood-injury phobia, and he leads a cautious lifestyle. d. George has a vulnerability to depression, and he frequently rents sad movies on video.
Answer: D
Which of the following is a problem with the snapshot approach to psychological disorders? a. It leads to poor prognosis. b. It fails to account for change over time. c. Faulty perceptions lead to improper diagnoses. d. It neglects certain symptoms.
Answer: D
Which of the following is an example of interoceptive avoidance? a. Martha does not enter public restrooms for fear of disease. b. Ronald does not visit his mother-in-law because she makes him anxious. c. Noel does not go to church for fear of having a panic attack while there. d. Chelsea does not play on merry-go-rounds because the dizziness resembles the early symptoms of a panic attack.
Answer: D
Which of the following is an incorrect combination of neurotransmitter and what it affects? a. Norepinephrine; emergency reactions b. Serotonin; moderation and regulation of behavior c. Benzodiazepine and GABA; general anxiety d. Dopamine; depression
Answer: D
Which of the following is the area of the brain most often associated with anxiety? a. Occipital lobe b. Orbital frontal lobe c. Medulla d. Limbic system
Answer: D
Which part of the brain gives humans the capacity to think, plan, and reason? a. Cerebellum b. Thalamus c. Limbic system d. Cerebral cortex
Answer: D
You are deciding whether to purchase a new assessment measure your staff will use in your psychology clinic. The factor(s) you should consider include a. its reliability. b. its validity. c. its standardization. d. all of the above
Answer: D
You operate an anxiety-reduction clinic and know you can make predictions about your clientele. Who are most likely to seek treatment? a. Overly reactive people with normal fears b. People with blood-injection-injury phobia c. People with GAD d. People with situational phobia
Answer: D
Your best friend tells you she has just gotten a job in a Veteran's Administration hospital where she will administer and interpret tests, diagnose and treat mental disorders, and continue her research on chronic disorders. All of her training in _____________ has paid off. a. nursing b. psychiatry c. social work d. clinical psychology
Answer: D
Early findings apparently supporting psychoanalytic therapy were based on a. scientific inquiry. b. case studies. c. introspection. d. literature reviews.
Answer:B
